CONSENSUS ON DECEMBER 3 ELECTION DATE

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001918 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HA SUBJECT: CONSENSUS ON DECEMBER 3 ELECTION DATE REF: PORT-AU-PRINCE 1846 ¶1. (U) Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis invited members of the Cabinet, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), MINUSTAH, OAS, and the donors to an October 3 meeting to obtain a consensus on the feasibility of a December 3 election. CEP Director General Jacques Bernard presented a timeline to meeting participants to bolster his case for the feasibility of the December 3 timing. SRSG Edmond Mulet stated that MINUSTAH was prepared to support the GoH but admitted that logistics and security were issues that he and his staff were in the process of resolving. The previously planned troop rotations would be postponed and the troops concentrated in Port-au-Prince would return to the provinces for distribution of election materials and support. As for funding, the UNDP representative stated that $4 million from the USG was the only money received. EU Representative Runn Skinnebach acknowledged that the EU's pledge had not yet been transferred to UNDP. He would do his best to hasten the process but gave no date. Canadian Ambassador Claude Boucher supported the decision to have a December 3 election but, likewise, gave no information regarding the arrival of Canadian electoral funds. ¶2. (U) Comment: It appears that local and municipal as well as the remainder of legislative elections will take place in December despite some of the logistical issues that plague the process(ref A). MINUSTAH, OAS, and the donor community support the GoH decision to hold elections in less than 60 days. In fact, MINUSTAH is making Herculean efforts that ensure the GoH,s wish becomes a reality. End Comment. SANDERSON